Redshirt junior left tackle Taylor Lewan hasn't uttered one word about the NFL Draft despite his rising stock, and he won't until after the bowl game, but if Lewan is looking for advice, here it is: he should turn pro.

Blasphemy, sacrilegious, you say. How can I not argue that coming back and getting his degree, and finishing what he started is the best choice? Simply put, because it isn't.

According to ESPN.com, SI.com and CBSSports.com, Lewan is a consensus first-round pick in April if he declares for the draft. In a recent issue of Sports Illustrated, the magazine ranked the 6-8, 309-pounder the No. 2 overall prospect in the draft while ESPN's Todd McShay is forecasting Lewan to go to the San Diego Chargers with the ninth selection and CBSSports.com projects him going No. 16 in the first round to the St. Louis Rams.